HISTORY OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION

The Importance of Visual Communication

Issues and ideas in the development of visual communication

Visual communication is a way to communicate ideas graphically in ways that are efficient and help to convey more meaning. It’s a critical element of any content marketing strategy.

This is because visuals can help to evoke emotions in your audience, provide stronger examples for your message and so much more. Visual communication involves the use of visual elements, such as drawings, illustrations and electronic images, to convey ideas and information to an audience.

If a visual communication is not properly designed for its intended use and audience, it can lead to a breakdown in communication. Also it can cause a distraction and detract from the message the image is supposed to convey if it has the wrong information.

History of Visual Communication

Visual Communications dates back around 40,000 years, when the earliest civilisations used cave walls as canvasses to share their knowledge, beliefs and stories. Although modern life now offers an overwhelming number of ‘canvas’ options; it’s clear that visual storytelling has never lost its currency or impact.

Fast forwarding to usage of ideograms up to the invention of the alphabet. It is save to say that visual communication has always been a part of our existence.

Visual communication also came from the arts and science in technical drawings and various art mediums. Paintings can capture the essence of subjects. Instead of relying on a verbal or written description, people were able to actually see the subject at hand.

This is expanded into many other mediums. Sculpture, drawing, ceramics and performing arts are all forms of visual communication that can be seen, recognised and understood.

Ultimately, we absorb visual communication the same ways we did in the past. The main difference is the platform. We are shown digital billboards, media through mobile devices, laptops, and that’s expanding to virtual reality and augmented reality. Digital media consumption is now the norm.

It is a powerful tool that can be used for either good or wrong, and judging from the era we are living in right now the line between right or wrong is pretty much blurred out.ww